Dear Baptist Press, I thank you for the good work you do. I'm going to be critical of you here, and I know that is not pleasant. I know what it is like to have your words, your ideas, your thoughts publicly derided. It does not feel good. I thank you good folks for what you do. Before I mention some things that bother me, I'd like to thank you for what you do well. You do a wonderful job of highlighting the work that is going on in Southern Baptist Churches and other entities. Your stories on churches and ministries that are reaching people and changing lives are inspiring and … [Read more...] about Inform the People! An Open Letter to Baptist Press
Brick Walls, Picket Fences (7): Why Build a Brick Wall When a Picket Fence Will Do?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the Christians in a city could come together and form one church? Think of it – only one church for all of Sioux City. What a blessing that would be, right? The unity that God intended for His church – an answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 – experienced here on earth. Christians joining to worship the Lord and serve him together without all that petty bickering and division – it would be glorious! Someone start humming the Doxology so we can all join in! But then, after the euphoria began to fade, a few uncomfortable realities might begin to present … [Read more...] about Brick Walls, Picket Fences (7): Why Build a Brick Wall When a Picket Fence Will Do?
Genesis 3: Temptation, the Fall, and Gender Roles
There is great conflict in the modern church, even among evangelicals, about gender roles in the home and at the church. While there are extremes on both ends of the spectrums, evangelicals tend to fall into two groups. Egalitarians assert that the Bible regards all people equally and does not assign different roles on the basis of gender. Wives are not obligated to submit to their husbands, nor are pastoral or other church leadership roles limited to men. Complementarians believe that while men and women have equal value and standing before God, we have been assigned different roles. … [Read more...] about Genesis 3: Temptation, the Fall, and Gender Roles
A Proposal for Dealing with Westboro
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19 It is clear from the discussion of Dr. Thomas White's post, that we all agree with this proposition: The Westboro group is not Christian, not Baptist and not even a church. They are false - publicity hounds who preach a message of hate that twists God's Word and gives the church a black eye in the process. The discussion was odd, because we had people who normally argue about just about everything who were uniting to condemn the Westboro … [Read more...] about A Proposal for Dealing with Westboro
Thank You, Andy Pettitte
I feel a lot of sadness tonight, and a little joy. You may not know this, but I am a fan of the New York Yankees. I don’t make a big deal about it, so most people don’t even know that I’m a fan of the Bronx Bombers. It is a sad day for Yankee fans. One of our greatest pitchers has hung up his glove. Brian Cashman announced today that Andy Pettitte will not be pitching for the Pinstripes in 2011. That made me feel sad. I spent 18 years passionately cheering for a team that never seemed to get it done. After our stirring win in 1978, we lost a heartbreaker to the evil Dodgers in 1981, … [Read more...] about Thank You, Andy Pettitte
Thomas White on “The Group at Westboro”
Thomas White has written an excellent essay called "The Group at Westboro." He has given me permission to copy it here. His blog (Thomas White) is worth reading regularly. He is a professor at Southwestern Seminary. That group has never claimed to be Southern Baptist, but by having Baptist as a part of their designation, they paint all of us with their shame. Dr. White has written powerfully to show that this group is neither Baptist nor a church. Here is Dr. White's article. The Group at Westboro If I told you that I was a bird, you might have your doubts. After all, I don’t look … [Read more...] about Thomas White on “The Group at Westboro”
Brick Wall Questions: Are “They” Real Christians?
When people consider the concept of the Brick Wall, questions arise as they attempt to identify which groups are inside the brick wall and which are on the outside looking in. The rubric I am using divides everyone into two groups – genuine Christian groups and those that have compromised the gospel. There are always a few groups that seem to defy easy placement, testing the limits of doctrinal compromise. Any metaphor, such as the one I am using here, has its limits. Many of these groups defy easy categorization. Privacy Fence Doctrine? I do not want to get too cute with the … [Read more...] about Brick Wall Questions: Are “They” Real Christians?
Brick Walls, Picket Fences (6): Brick Wall Doctrine – Jesus, the Gospel, the Second Coming
This is the sixth in an ongoing series of posts exploring how we can balance the demands of unity in the Body of Christ with the need for doctrinal accountability and discernment. In the first post, I introduced the topic. In the second post, I identified the four levels of biblical truth and the appropriate unity response at each level. In the third post, I introduced "Brick Wall Doctrine" - truths that are essential to the gospel and cannot be compromised in the church. In the fourth post, I started listing what I believe are Brick Wall truths, beginning with the perfection of … [Read more...] about Brick Walls, Picket Fences (6): Brick Wall Doctrine – Jesus, the Gospel, the Second Coming
What Is a Southern Baptist?
You tell me. There are really two questions here: 1) What is a Southern Baptist? 2) What is a Southern Baptist church? The answer to the first question can be pretty simple - a Southern Baptist is someone who is a member of a Southern Baptist church (whether they identify themselves as such or not.) We don't have a membership outside of the local church membership. But what is the sine qua non of Southern Baptist identity? What makes a church truly a Southern Baptist church? I usually write my opinion then let you interact with that. I'm going to make this more of an … [Read more...] about What Is a Southern Baptist?
Welcome Back, sbcIMPACT!
I'm always willing to promote something good in the blog world - and I think that sbcIMPACT! is one of the best sites out there. I know, I'm biased. I've been writing at that site for 2 years and think the world of the men who contribute there. But sbcIMPACT! has had a problem the last 6 months or so. Something happened to the site, or the hosting company or something. It became increasingly hard to log on to the site to comment, or even to read and the once lively site slowed a little. But the new (and improved) sbcIMPACT! has just been rolled out. The contributors are pretty much … [Read more...] about Welcome Back, sbcIMPACT!